12 Feb 2018

Santeswari temple is situated not very far from Solapur temple. At first instant I thought it to be a house but when inspected found out to be a temple where Santeswari goddess is worshiped. Which houses many Buddhist images, some of which are broken.

The main goddess is a two armed seated (Tara perhaps) as informed a villager. A young boy of around 12 years was performing the rituals while we visited the place. And he denied to click a pic of the deity.😑 Some pics from outside of d temple.

Some villagers asked us how we know about the place ! And told us about a very familiar story of a king and queen, which were being heard at Ratnagiri and Langudi too. when I told them that theirs is a famous place, they were bewildered to here that.😊

* This blog is written by Supriya Mishra and she captured all these photos.

11 Feb 2018

Solampur Buddhist Site lost with the passage of time and now coming under the jurisdiction of Bhadrak district of Odisha, flourished during the Bhaumakaras. The neulapur grant of subhakaradeb mention this place as "solanapur mahavihar".

This small village has grown up over the ruins and mounds of an earlier existing Buddhist site, just on the opposite banks of river Baitarani from Jajpur, where one can find a whole lot of Buddhist images scattered all over, main place being the Raghunathjew temple in the middle of the village.

This site had a prolonged life up to 12th CE as evident from Ratnagiri inscription of Somabamsi king Karnadeba. The images from Buddhist pantheon such as Gautam Buddha, Tara, Jambhala, Abalokiteswara are found here, of whom some are worshiped and some are fixed on the niches of the temple.

A beautiful image of Gautam Buddha is found on the right side niche of the temple, which is in Bhumisparsa Mudra with a Mandala depicting eight important stages of his life with the Mahaparinirbana scene just above his head. This mandala cult is so popular in Odishan architecture.

The above image also holds an inscription of four lines on it's base with two lions on each side.

A beautiful image of Tara in standing position holding a lotus in the left hand occupies the side niche of the above image. It also has an inscription on the halo just over the head. Check the minutely carved details, from the hairdo to the facial expression. just amazing.

Some other images found on the niches of the Raghunathjew temple and the main deities of the temple, worshiped by the villagers. No one could tell why the temple is called Raghunathjew, because Sriram is not worshiped here.

* This blog is written by Supriya Mishra and she captured all these photographs.

31 Jan 2018

Aghira Purnami or Agira Purnami (Odia: ଅଘିରା ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା କିମ୍ବା ଅଗିରା ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା) is a local festival in Odisha which was celebrated in the month of Magha according to the Odia calender. This festival observes in the month of January or February according to the Grogrin calender.

According to some fact, this festival is celebrated to goodbye winter. Some of believed that this festival is for the farmers. After harvesting, farmers offer of the straws to the god of fire so he would burn the insects during the next cultivation.

The ritual of this festival is to make fire some straws after the puja by Brahmin and people also offer some vegetables, coconut to the fire. And it's believed that some disease cured by eating those brunt vegetables. Some people also keep the ash at home to keep safe from the evil powers.

* All these photographs are taken by Bikas Ojha, Anand, Ganeswar Nayak and Sangram Keshari Senapati.

22 Jan 2018

Saraswati Puja (Odia: ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ପୂଜା) or Basanta Panchami (Odia: ବସନ୍ତ ପଞ୍ଚମୀ) is a Hindu festival, observed on the fifth day of the Indian traditional calendar month of Magha, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of January or February.

This festival is celebrated in every school of Odisha like Ganesha Puja. Many revere goddess Saraswati, the Hindu deity of learning, arts and music. She is celebrated with visits to her temples, by playing music, as well as the day when parents sit down with their children, initiate them into writing letters of alphabet or study together. So on this day, the small children start to study, which is known as Khadi Chhuan (ଖଡ଼ି ଛୁଆଁ) in Odia.

Khadi Chhuan of Titun, son of Sweta apa. (ଖଡ଼ି ଛୁଆଁ)

On the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami (Saraswati Puja), internationally acclaimed Sand Artist Mr. Manas Sahoo has built a sand sculpture of Goddess Saraswati on the sea-beach of Puri. pic.twitter.com/ZoRlC0UJSU

20 Jan 2018

Winter is the awesome season among all seasons. In this season, people love to visit different picnic places and getting closer toward the family and friends. Nature of earth always attracts people in various ways. Winter is the time when different types of flowers blooms and yes, everyone loves the flowers.

According to some people, nature grows old in the winter season. It is a period of decay. But this old lady is like our granny who shares her love and lovely stories with us. It reminds us our childhood days. One of our friend Subhakanta Dhal had shared some amazing photos of winter.